Step back or squint slightly. When gamma is correctly calibrated, the striped pattern and the solid patch should visually blend into one seamless gray tone.
Gamma curves describe the non-linear relationship between digital input voltage/signal and the physical photon luminance emitted by your display panel. Standard web browsers cannot automatically measure physical panel gamma without an external colorimeter or spectrophotometer sensor. This test creates an optical luminance balance pattern so your eyes can detect whether your monitor is tracking the sRGB Gamma 2.2 standard.
Checks if your display accurately tracks the standard Gamma 2.2 transfer function, ensuring shadow midtones are neither unnaturally darkened nor washed out.
Step back 2 meters or squint slightly. At Gamma 2.2, the 1-pixel striped area and the solid patch should blend together into a single uniform gray shade.
Solid patch darker than stripes at 2.2: Monitor gamma is too high (crushed midtones). Solid patch lighter than stripes: Monitor gamma is too low (washed out). Adjust the Gamma setting in your monitor's OSD menu.
